#5 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Ivan Albright

 Finally, finished with The Picture of Dorian Gray.  After getting over occupied with traveling, and useless distractions to follow, I'm back to give a review.  

This book was definitely worth finishing, though I had a bit of a hunch about how it would end.  Nevertheless, it was entertaining enough and touches on a subject that very few stories are about.  The acts of corruption seem to plague Dorian and those he comes into contact with not long after the portrait of his perfect face is finished.  After he comes to the understanding that his young face will change with age until he is no longer appreciated, he decides he would do anything to avoid this inevitable future.  He fears getting old, or having an ugly face.

What I found most entertaining about the story was the depiction of the inner driving force which propels a person to commit such terrible acts.  Murder as an example is something that most would never consider.  Thus, it is interesting to observe the way a person would come to such a point that murder would seem reasonable.  It is more a study of a state of mind, and a motivation.

From a distance, Dorian Gray can be skewed as the archetype of an evil aristocrat.  When he wants something, he has enough influence to get it.  Even if the service or thing is questionable, no one will raise a brow to his request.  It is parallel to the idea that living at a status above others can poison the soul.  The combination of unlimited resources, additional leisure time and boredom is a recipe for devious tactics.  The problem flowers from Dorian's focus to pursue his desires.

Lastly, I believe this book is somewhat symbolic of forbidden information.  It seems once Dorian is 'in the know' he can no longer live his life the same.  He claims the book he was given is filled with terrible information, the type that will pollute the mind.